DONALD Trump is set to pull 5,000 US troops out of Germany following a bitter row with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.
The German leader claimed Washington had been “humiliated” by Tehran at the negotiating table – sparking a furious response from the US president.
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The German leader said the US had been humiliated Credit: Reuters
US troops pictured in Germany this year Credit: Getty
Trump said in a seething Truth social post that Merz was “doing a terrible job” and had “problems of all kinds” related to immigration and energy.
The US president has also hinted at withdrawing soldiers from Spain and Italy.
The US currently has at least 36,000 troops stationed at bases across Germany – the largest deployment in Europe by far.
There are about 12,000 American troops in Italy and 10,000 in the UK.
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The US president said the German leader was doing a terrible job Credit: Reuters
The Ramstein Air Base in Germany hosts a large number of US forces Credit: Getty
The decision to pull troops came from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon confirmed.
It said: “This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground.
“We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.”
The latest spat comes after a string of tirades against Nato allies from Trump over their refusal to help him in the Middle East.
Trump is locked into a bitter row with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Credit: AP
Members of the US 7th Army Training Command in Germany, April 30 Credit: Getty
Asked whether he would ever pull US troops from Italy and Spain, Trump responded: “I probably will – look, why shouldn’t I?
“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible.
“In all cases they said, ‘I don’t want to get involved.’”
It comes after Merz said the “Americans clearly have no strategy” and that he could not see “what strategic exit” Washington might choose.
Nato allies have refused to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz Credit: AP
Merz said Iran had humiliated the US following Washington’s blitzing campaign Credit: Reuters
The German leader said: “The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result.
The Chancellor added that the “entire nation” was being “humiliated” by the Iranian regime.
Trump took to Truth Social in response, blasting Merz for thinking it was “OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon”.
He also said Merz “doesn’t know what he’s doing”.
His post said: “No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!”
It comes as Trump continues to try to unblock the fiercely contested Strait of Hormuz – and hash out a deal with the teetering regime.
He said on Friday he is “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest peace offer, but that he’d still “prefer not” to “blast the hell” out of the country.
The White House declared that the war was not “terminated”, but Trump has refused to rule out further strikes.
Tehran has also tried to avoid giving up its stockpile of highly-enriched uranium in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but the US has insisted the regime must not have nuclear capabilities.
The US president admitted there are two options with how to proceed beyond the shaky three-week ceasefire.
Speaking after a briefing with Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, Trump said: “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal?”
Pressed on whether he’d go on the offensive, he said: “On a human basis, I’d prefer not, but that’s the option.”
Trump also admitted that there may never be a peace deal with Iran, but was nonetheless complimentary of improved diplomacy.
“They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” he said.
